The mbongo is an African
trumpet made from elephant tusk ivory. This one is
from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaïre)
and played by the Mangebetu. Such instruments are
used in the Congo area of Africa and in Ghana (where
among the Asante it is called aben) where
they are played in ensembles of 7 players. The instrument
is side-blown and has a fingerhole for changing the
pitch at the small end. Pre-1970 ivory horns, such
as the one pictured here, are legal to own but illegal
to transport across state lines and outside of the
US and elsewhere unless they are registered and the
owner has the accompanying paperwork. It is also illegal
to import such horns into the US and other countries.